Chris Holt

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal praised his 'fantastic players' after a 3-0 win over Cardiff City secured a place in the Championship play-offs.

The Bluebirds were Wednesday's nearest rivals and needed a win at Hillsborough to keep alive their hopes of breaking into the top six. However, the Owls were much too strong for Russell Slade's side and after controlling the game almost from start to finish, Wednesday turned that dominance into goals, with Gary Hooper opening the scoring with a predatory finish early in the second half.

Hooper then dispossessed City goalkeeper David Marshall outside the box and crossed towards goal where defender Lee Peltier bundled the ball over his own line to make it 2-0.

And the former Norwich City striker Hooper's day was capped off with a second late on as the party started on S6.

While Hooper was undoubtedly the star man on the day - his all round game was impressive from the start - Carvalhal hailed his entire team, saying they were 'like dogs' in their attempts to win the ball, which proved to be the difference against a lacklustre Cardiff side.

He said: "I said from the beginning that we were outsiders this season. We achieved this place because we have a fantastic group of players, they're acting like a team, we are one as a team.

Carlos Carvalhal after the victory over Cardiff City which secured Sheffield Wednesday's play-off place